Farinaz Farhoudi1, Alireza Salehi2, Mina Vojoud3, Hossein Molavi Vardanjani4. 1. Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Electronic address: farhoudif@yahoo.com. 2. Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Electronic address: salehialireza45@yahoo.com. 3. Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Electronic address: mina.vojouds@gmail.com. 4. MPH Department, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Electronic address: hosseinmolavi@ymail.com.
Abstract
AIMS: To assess the prevalence of and factors related to complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) use among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, using a translated and adapted version of a standard international questionnaire. METHODS: International complementary and alternative medicine questionnaire (I-CAM-Q) was used. A cross-sectional study was done to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with CIM use among MS patients in Southern Iran. Patients who were randomly selected from MS registry center, were interviewed via phone calls. RESULTS: Three hundred patients were enrolled in the study; 69% of them were female. Their mean age was 36.6±8.53 years and the mean duration of the disease was 5.6 ± 4.22 years. In all, 99.3% (95% CI) of the patients had used at least one type of CIM. Herbal medicines and dietary supplements were the most commonly used CIM type (97.3%; 95% CI). Praying was the most common modality among all CIM subgroups (81.3%; 95% CI). Long term illness (MS) was selected as the main reason for the last use of all CIM types. Having non-tertiary education and having sequel due to MS were related to visiting a CIM provider (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.22-4.43), (AOR = 2.67, 95% CI = 1.47-4.83) respectively. Being female was related to the use of self-help practices (AOR = 3.41, 95% CI = 1.5-7.72). CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of CIM use among MS patients. Therefore, patient- physician communication about CIM use should be emphasized.
AIMS: To assess the prevalence of and factors related to complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) use among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, using a translated and adapted version of a standard international questionnaire. METHODS: International complementary and alternative medicine questionnaire (I-CAM-Q) was used. A cross-sectional study was done to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with CIM use among MS patients in Southern Iran. Patients who were randomly selected from MS registry center, were interviewed via phone calls. RESULTS: Three hundred patients were enrolled in the study; 69% of them were female. Their mean age was 36.6±8.53 years and the mean duration of the disease was 5.6 ± 4.22 years. In all, 99.3% (95% CI) of the patients had used at least one type of CIM. Herbal medicines and dietary supplements were the most commonly used CIM type (97.3%; 95% CI). Praying was the most common modality among all CIM subgroups (81.3%; 95% CI). Long term illness (MS) was selected as the main reason for the last use of all CIM types. Having non-tertiary education and having sequel due to MS were related to visiting a CIM provider (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.22-4.43), (AOR = 2.67, 95% CI = 1.47-4.83) respectively. Being female was related to the use of self-help practices (AOR = 3.41, 95% CI = 1.5-7.72). CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of CIM use among MS patients. Therefore, patient- physician communication about CIM use should be emphasized.
Authors: Esayas B Kebede; Judy Tan; Salma Iftikhar; Haitham S Abu Lebdeh; Murali K Duggirala; Amit K Ghosh; Ivana T Croghan; Sarah M Jenkins; Saswati Mahapatra; Brent A Bauer; Dietlind L Wahner-Roedler Journal: Glob Adv Health Med Date: 2021-04-21